Ensilage packer



Dec. 4, 1923. 1,476,620

E.. D. KILMARTIN ENSILAGE PACKER Filed June 18. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 4 1923. 1,476,620

E. D. KlLMARTlN ENS ILAGE PAGKER Filed June 18 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Minn/17101110111011?) WITNESS:

Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

warren s'rars PATENT orr cs. "F

EDMUND D. izrmvrantrm, or ADA, MICHIGAN.

nnsILaGE PACKEB.

' Application filed June 118,

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDMUND D. KILMARTIN, a citizenof the United States, residing at Ada, in the county of Kent and State'of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ensilage Packers, of which the following is a Specification.

This invention relates to devices used in connection with silos and has for its object the provision of a motor driven packing means for pressing down ensilage deposited within the silo wherebythe ensilage will be properly compressed and the capacity of the silo consequently increased, the device within the silo so that the packing will be uniform. I

An additional object is the provision of. a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy to in stall, highly eflieient in use, durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and ad vantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which-- 7 Figure 1 is a plan view of my device associated with a silo,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of my device, the silo being in section,

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the central portion of my device,

Figure tis a detail sectional viewillustrating the adjustable arms clamped upon the silO, V

Figure 5 is a detail view of the rope takingiup means.

eferring more particularly to the drawings, the letter A designates a silo upon which my device is secured. In carrying out my invention I provide a spider-like bearing member 10 formed centrally with a hole 11 and likewise formed with upstanding cars 1321. Serial No. 478,714.

.- 12 provided with bearings 13. 'This bearing member 10 includes a plurality of radial arms 14 with which are slidably adj'us tabl y" 60 connected rods 15 having angular down turned ends 16 engageable over the upper" edge of the silo. These ends 16 are preferably formed with eyes 17 for the attachment of guy wires 18 or the'like whereby to steady the device and in fact to steady the whole silo while the filling thereof is being accomplished.

Journaled through the bearings 13 is'a' horizontally disposed shaft 19 provided at one end with a suitable pulley 20 about which may be engaged a suitable belt, not

shown, driven by any suitable portable gaso line'engine, electric motor, or other power device. Associated with the pulley 20 is a guide 21 for the purpose of holding the belt associated therewith against displacement. Between the ears 12 the shaft- 19 carries a relatively small bevel gear 22 and a larger gear 23.

Journaled through the hole 11 in the bearing member 10 is a vertically disposed shaft 24 which is provided at its upper end with a bevel gear 25 meshing with the gear 22 and at the lower end of the shaft 24 is'a bevel gear 26. Surrounding and rotatable upon the shaft 24: is a sleeve 27 which has its upper end provided with a gear 28 meshin withthe gear 23. Secured to the lower en of the sleeve 27 is a horizontal sleeve 29' designed to engage and tamp down the ensilage within the silo. This bar is formed.

with a series of holes 37 within selected ones of which may be engaged the rope, it being I preferable that two points of connection be used. 2 I

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that the shaft 19 is rotating through the instrumentality of any suitable power device and assuming that ensilage is being deposited within the silo by any means, the engagementlof the gear 23with the gear v as sleeve 29 within the'silo, At the same time,

the gear 22 meshing with the gear 25 will cause rotation of the shaft 24 and consequent rotation of the shaft 31. As the sha-ft'3l is rotated the crank 33 thereon will pull the bar 36 up and then allow it to descend and this will naturallyresult in. packing down the: ensilage. Owing to the fact that the sleeve 29zcarryi-ng thiscrank shaft is rotated it is apparentthatthebar will engage and tamp. down all portions of the ensilage. so that uniform packing and compression, will result. As the depth of the ensilage increases it is quite. apparent. that the rope or otherflexibledevice 34 must necessarily be shortened. and, this is easily. accomplished by means of the take up device 35 while the deviceis in operation, it being, entirely unnecessary to cause a cessation of the packing action'to. accomplish this minor adjustment.

' From the foregoing. description and a study of the drawings it will be apparentthatl" have thus provided a simply (3011 structed and consequently inexpensive de vice which, is adjustable'for. engagementupon any silo and which is so constructed that it will efiiciently and uniformly pack or tamp down 'ensilage in a highly eificient manner and much. more easily and more economically than this same work can be accomplished y workmentramplmg downthe ensilage with their feet.

lVhile Ihave-shown and described. the. preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve for driving said shaft simultaneously with table the rotation .of said member, an ad flexible member connected with said crank,

V and-a tamping member carried by said flexible member;

2. A device of the character described.

comprising a bearing spider adapted to be secured upon. the upper edge of a silo, a vertical shaft journaled through said bearing member, means for rotating said shaft, a sleeve surrounding and rotatable with respect to said shaft, means for rotatingsaid sleeve, a horizontal sleeve rigidly secured to said first named sleeve, a horizontal shaft cal shaft journaled through said bearing member, means for rotat ng said shaft, a

sleeve surroundingrand rotatable with respect to said shaft, means for rotating said. sleeve, a horizontal sleeve rig dly secured to said first named sleeve,- a, horizontal shaft journaled through said. horizontal sleeve and driven by said first named. shaft, av A ible member, the means for driving said first named shaft and first named sleeve comprising a horizontal drivenshaft journally as sociated with said bearing, a pair of gears.

on. said last named shaft, and. gears on the upper ends-of said first named shaft and said first named sleeve meshing withsaid pair of gears. I

4. A device of the character described comprising abearing spider adapted to be secured. upon the upper edge of a silo, a.

vertical shaft journaled through said hearing member, .means. for rotating said shaft, a. sleeve surrounding. and rotatable with respect to said shaft, means for rotating said sleeve, a horizontal sleeve rigidly secured to said first namedsleeve, a horizontal shaft ournaled through said horizontal sleeveand driven by said first named shaft, a crank on said last named shaft, an. adjustable flexible member connected withsaid' crank, and a" heavy bar carried by said flexible member, said bearing member including a stationary central portion having radial'rigid arms.

and further including rods slidably I ad.- justably connected withsaid arms andhaving forked ends engageablelover the edge of Y 

